ITA to support Intel’s Open Source competition

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) in support of the Open Source Intel Global Challenge in Oman was signed recently between the Information Technology Authority (ITA) and Intel Corporation.

They are collaborating on a national Open Source business plan competition that aims to encourage emerging entrepreneurs, university students and graduates, and reward ideas that have a high potential of becoming a new business, a press release said.

The MoU is in line with ITA’s efforts and achievements in spreading free and open source software culture for the past two years, the release added. The MoU was signed by Omar Salim al Shanfari, deputy CEO for infrastructure and eServices at ITA and Nassir Nauthoa, Intel general manager, Gulf countries.

The first stage of the competition started in mid-November, 2012, through a workshop for representatives of participating colleges and universities. Seventy-six students from various institution in the sultanate registered for the competition.

The participants received weekly lectures via e-learning from Intel for one month. The competition results are due to be announced during the International Conference of Free & Open Source Software, to be held in mid-February.

The top three winners will participate in the Intel competition in the Middle East, and if they succeed, will compete at the international level.

The competition aims to promote public-private partnerships in digital society development initiatives, and foster innovation and youth development.